And then I went out to dinner with Arie. Well, not really, because this conversation was via email, but that's almost just as enjoyable as in real life. Arie likes to eat out (I believe he rarely cooks at home), so he knows his way around the wine list and has his preferences when it comes to vegetables. Are you reading along?

‘In Florence, at the Piazza Pitti. It's a small bistro, with fantastic wines. It's called Pitti Gola e Cantina. And I believe I've never had such a delicious lunch anywhere as there. Oh man, the homemade tiramisu!’

‘Winston Churchill, then. When he was already pleasantly plump and drank heavily. I think he was a true gourmet. And you can be sure you won't be bored for a moment with such a storyteller. After dinner, a good cigar, yes, that sounds good to me.’

‘In a documentary about the secret service of some obscure country, I heard someone say that spies and agents always sit in a corner against the wall. Then no one can come up from behind, and you have a view of the exit or other escape routes. I always think of that when I'm looking for a place. But for me, it's especially important that I don't have too much visibility of the space. I get easily distracted while eating.’

‘A hearty vegetable dish. I eat out a lot. Then it's nice that you can choose something without meat, fish, or too many carbohydrates for a second or third time. The forgotten vegetables or just the evergreens like broccoli and cauliflower. Zucchini, carrots, sweet potato… but it has to be a substantial bite.’

‘I know my favorite grapes. And I recognize them better and better by taste. But still, it's going too far to say that I know a lot about it. I'm an enthusiast and love to try new things, so I prefer to be advised by the staff. I quickly choose the Verdicchio or the Sancerre.’

‘Aha, a trick question. A modest person would choose now, but my first reaction was… absolutely. Both then. The starter gives me the chance to taste and try more small dishes. And a dessert belongs to a dinner. It can be very sweet. With a strong espresso on the side. And then into the evening.’

‘There is just a book released in which I compiled the most beautiful poems about death. On November 27 (in Amsterdam) and November 28 (in Eindhoven) there are concerts with the DoelenKwartet, during which they play beautiful music by Schubert and a very bizarre piece by Crumb, and in between, I read poems. Here you can buy a ticket.

And a few days earlier, my new program ‘From sprinkles to halal’ will be on TV for the first time. November 24, 21:20 on NPO3.’